The Jewels of Rio Tuba; A damaged treasure in Paete

We cannot live modern life without mining. Not to accept that fact is to be hypocritical. Through mining we are able to get at the God-given minerals that make possible most, if not all, of what we use in our daily lives.

But it is also true that mining can be responsible or irresponsible.

Anti-mining proponents need to be reminded that their quarrel is not against mining but against irresponsible mining.

Indeed there can be no better allies than the pro-mining and anti mining groups when their advocacies are accurately defined. The problem, it seems to this column, is how to communicate to the public that cooperation between these warring sectors is not only possible but necessary.

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So it is with great pleasure that I commend the book “Jewels of Rio Tuba” which was launched by Nickel Asia last Thursday at the Ayala Museum. It is the story of how mining has harmonized with the life of indigenous people in the area. “The Rio Tuba Nickel Corporation has built for them an integrated community where nature people and a mine thrive together in peaceful and productive coexistence.”

Manny Zamora, chairman of Nickel Asia told me that before he did not think there was a need to let the public know what they do. But that has changed and today he is at the helm of a group who would let the world know what they have done in Rio Tuba.

In his speech at the launch Rio Tuba president Jerry Brimo said, “Our work in Rio Tuba among other things involves providing the indigenous peoples with an Indigenous Learning System, which educates yearly about 1,300 of them, not just kids but adults as well who want to learn to read and write, not at government expense but at our expense.”

They have provided housing and hospitals that the indigenous people would not have had otherwise had it been left to government alone to provide.

Brimo is a passionate defender of mining especially against those who would lie about what they do. He invites all to go to Rio Tuba and see for themselves.

“For close to 40 years now, we have done and continue to do in Barangay Rio Tuba and the town of Bataraza. “

They have transformed the once sleepy and dirt poor town of Bataraza into a first class municipality.  It generates the 3rd highest in income out of the 23 municipalities in Palawan. I suspect that Brimo although a dedicated miner has found greater satisfaction in what mining can do for communities.

“Our work involves planning and managing our numerous Social Development Management programs that go way beyond what the law requires — consisting of livelihood project, day care centers, electrification and water systems, infrastructure such as roads; assistance to public schools even when we have our own schools; scholarships, and so many other things.”

They have “rehabilitated mined out areas, and created forests of indigenous hardwood species, where none existed before due to the lateritic nature of the soil.” They have also grown rice and fruit trees, which one could not do before, again because of the lateritic nature of the soil.

Contrary to accusations from anti-mining sectors Rio Tuba has transformed the environment into something productive, after having taken out the only thing that that area in southern Palawan had going for it then, which is nickel.

“That transformation is a science in itself, and if you find what I have just told you hard to believe, even after looking at the book, you are all welcome to visit our operations — just let us know and we would be delighted to arrange visits.”

But he reserved the best part of his speech for the last. “If you ever need to have a stent inserted — it’s made of nickel and titanium and called Nitinol — it is possible that the nickel in that device, which can save your life, comes from Rio Tuba Nickel.”

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Beth Ramirez of the UA & P is dismayed that a painting of San Cristobal (St. Christopher) in the historic church of Paete has been damaged. It is time that lovers of art and especially Paetenos look into what is happening to the priceless treasures of this church. I remember on my vacations there as a child it was time to wake up when the church bells rang.

She sent me an article by Butch Dalisay to appreciate our loss when the San Cristobal was damaged in July 2012.

“As one enters the church, two paintings of Saint Cristobal are found on the wall to the left. It is a large figure that its enormity seems to tighten in the painting. The large figure of the saint emerging from the sea, holding on to a coconut tree and riding on his right shoulder, the child Jesus is not the same in measure as the large figure.

The first painting can be said to be the composition of a figure, a giant dressed in Filipino even though there are slight foreign features. Through painting shadows on the body one can notice the heavy strokes used and both light and darkness are separated in the form of the arms and foot. This picture is painted on a panel, those attached to sliced wood. Colors are dark and each shape has a stroke of color.

There is a legend saying there was an ugly creature with extraordinary strength that lived in Canaan during the early years of Christianity.

Above everything else, the giant wanted to find a creature that can overpower him. He worked for a king but left after seeing his master shake at the mention of a demon. He served a demon, however he saw that it feared the cross along the side of the road. It admitted that Jesus Christ was much greater. Hence Cristobal searched for Jesus Christ. One night, he heard a child who wished to get across. He carried the child on his shoulder and noticed that the little kid became heavier, and he had a hard time crossing. He asked why and the child’s answer was that he was now carrying on his shoulders the weight of universe. Soon after, the child vanished and the piece of bamboo he was holding bore flowers. Cristobal’s name was adapted from the fact that he carried Christ on his shoulders.”